Beer board member ousted by Oak Ridge City Council

Oak Ridge City Council on Monday removed a beer board member — but not before discussion about how to best handle an issue that had no procedural rule.

Beverly Majors/Staff

Oak Ridge City Council on Monday removed a beer board member — but not before discussion about how to best handle an issue that had no procedural rule.

Council members Chuck Hope, Charlie Hensley and David Mosby, as well as Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller, voted to oust Pedro Otaduy from the city’s Beer Board, while Councilwoman Trina Baughn voted “no” and Anne Garcia Garland abstained.

Citing behavior, the issue arose after Beer Board chairman Randy Tedford and Beer Board secretary William Barton Bailey requested the move against Otaduy, who was appointed to fill the unexpired balance of a term ending Dec. 31.

The resolution to remove Otaduy states he has been “disrespectful to and argumentative with board members during public meetings, failed to follow proper process and meeting agenda order, and provided legal advice to applicants regarding state law” during meetings.

Tedford and Bailey each submitted letters to City Council for consideration of the removal.

In Tedford’s letter, he stated that Otaduy:

• Accused members of lying;

• Speaks without being recognized by the chairman;

• Argues with members; and

• Fails to follow process.

Council members Baughn and Mosby each said “there are two sides to every story” — something Baughn attributed to first-hand knowledge.

Baughn said Beer Board members are all volunteers and “give freely of their time,” adding that “we don’t have a process in place to give due process.”

Mosby and Miller agreed with Baughn, but Miller stated that “this one is pretty one-sided.”

The mayor pro tem also said Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson had earlier given Otaduy “time to resign.”

In a letter from the city manager to City Council recommending the removal of Otaduy, Watson wrote that “Mr. Otaduy was offered the option to respond to the letter for inclusion in the July 8th agenda packet and nothing has been received.”

Council member Garcia Garland, a former Beer Board member, said she agreed with Mosby who voiced concerns about setting a precedent.

“We are going down an uncharted path,” said Garcia Garland, while Councilman Hensley said Otaduy is “very enthusiastic but it’s hard to know where he’s coming from.”

After asking Watson and the city staff to review rules and procedures and suggest a future path to follow, City Council voted to remove Otaduy from the board.